However the newly-launched service – which has taken over streaming giants LoveFilm – has now announced it will work with producers Tiger Aspect and the BBC on new episodes, which will begin filming in the summer.

The new series will be aired exclusively on Amazon Prime Instant Video later this year before subsequently being shown on BBC One – and as an added treat, the first two series of the show will also be available to watch on the service.

‘This is an exceptional opportunity to bring back Ripper Street for a third series by working with the right partners,’ said the BBC’s drama controller Ben Stephenson.

‘This deal gives fans another series of the show they love at excellent value to the licence fee payer, ensuring that the BBC can also commission an entirely new, yet to be announced drama series.’

MacFadyen, meanwhile, said that he was ‘delighted’ at the news, adding: ‘We all thought that the show had legs. We didn’t feel like it was petering out.’

The first series of the show, which began in January 2013 and aired on Sunday nights, was a ratings hit, although attracted controversy due to its graphic sex and violence scenes aired close to the 9pm watershed.

However the second series, which moved to a Monday timeslot, failed to prove quite so popular, losing out to I’m A Celebrity in the ratings.